Collar and shirt collar protector

ABSTRACT

A collar is provided which may be worn so as to conceal and protect a shirt collar. The collar of this invention may be adjustable so as to fit several neck sizes. In one embodiment the collar is formed of elastic material so that it may be stretched over the head and secured about the neck of the wearer. In one specific embodiment the collar is a turtleneck collar and may be worn with a collarless shirt so as to provide a turtleneck appearance when so worn.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,860,967

Tedesco Jan. 21, 1975 4] COLLAR AND SHIRT COLLAR 3,393,406 7/1968 Hollinger et al. 2/129 PROTECTOR 3,479,667 11/1969 M611] 2/98 x [76] Inventor: George P. Tedesco, 172 Meadbrook FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Rd., Garden City, N.Y. 11520 319,999 10/1929 Great Britain 2/131 105,413 91899 G 22 Filed: Nov. 21, 1973 many 2/129 [21] A l N 417,769 Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarvin Feldman; J. B. Felshin [52] U.S. Cl. 2/129, 2/139 [51] Int. Cl A4) 3/18 57 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 2/60, 129,131,116, 98,

2/90 91 139 140 128 127 A collar is provided which may be worn so as to conceal and protect a shirt collar. The collar of this invention may be adjustable so as to fit several neck sizes.- [56] References cued In one embodiment the collar is formed of elastic ma- UNITED STATES PATENTS terial so that it may be stretched over the head and sel,l99,813 10/1916 Ogborn 2/90 cured about the neck of the wearer. In one specific 1,851,222 3/1932 Turoan 2/131 embodiment the collar is a turtleneck collar and may Homgsberg et 2/60 be worn with a collarless shirt so as to provide a turtle- 2Z182I582 12/1939 neck appearance when so worn. 3,035,271 5/1962 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEB JANE] I975 SHEEI 2 [IF 2 COLLAR AND SHIRT COLLAR PROTECTOR This invention relates to a collar for a shirt and specifically to a collar which covers, protects and conceals the shirt collar of the wearer. More specifically this invention relates to a collar which is worn over a shirt to provide a change in appearance of the shirt.

Heretofore collar protectors were generally of trans parent plastic material so as to protect while disclosing the shirt collar therebeneath, and said collar protectors were sized so as to specifically fit a particular collar and neck band size.

Now therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a collar which both protects and conceals the shirt collar.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a collar as aforesaid which may be secured about the neck of the wearer and adjusted to fit a particular neck size.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a collar as aforesaid which further provides an appearance in collar style or color other than that of the shirt collar of the wearer.

It is still of further object of this invention to provide a collar as aforesaid which may be worn with a collarless shirt so as to provide a turtleneck appearance and conceal the collarless appearance.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a collar which is of readily launderable fabric and which also may be stretchable for improved fit.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a collar as aforesaid which is readily and inexpensively manufactured and is stylish in appearance and practical and safe in its use.

The aforesaid as well as other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the invention, partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the invention, partially broken away;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged rearward perspective view showing another means of adjustably fitting the collar of FIG. I invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the turtleneck embodiment of the invention as worn on the neck of the wearer, in combination with a collarless shirt; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a first embodiment of the collar of this invention generally designated as 10, as worn in combination with a collared shirt S, such as a dress shirt. Collar 10 comprises a first portion 11 which first portion is disposed outwardly from and covering the shirt collar C. First portion 11 is styled to appear as a shirt collar. First collar portion 11 is formed with pockets 12a and 12b at the undersides of the ends ofthe collar portion 11. Pockets 12a and 121) are for receiving the ends of the shirt collar C and for holding same in place so as to conceal and protect the shirt collar C.

Collar 10 further comprises a second portion I3, which second portion is disposed inwardly of shirt S and when worn is pressingly engaged between the inside of shirt collar C and the neck of the wearer (not shown). Second portion 13 is attached to first portion 11 by means of horizontally disposed stitching 14. The attached first and second portions 11 and 13 are vertically split so as to form opposed end portions Ila, llb and 13a, 13b, respectively. End portions 11b and 13b are receivable within and covered by end portions Ila and 13a. In this manner the neck band size is adjusted to fit the neck of the wearer. Further a first set of female snap fastener members 15b, 16b, and 17b are secured to end portions 11b and 13b; specifically 15b is secured to 1312, and 16b and 17b are secured to 11b. A corresponding set of male snap fastener members 15a, 16a and 17a are secured to Ila and 13a; specifically 15a is secured to 13a, and 16a and 17a are secured to 1111. When male snap fastener members 15a, 16a and 17a engage female snap fastener members 15b, 16b, and 17b, respectively, the collar 10 is thereby secured about the neck of the wearer. A second set of female snap fastener members (only 15b] being shown) are horizontally spaced from the first set of female snap fastener members. This second set of female snap fastener members is similar in construction to the first set of female snap fastener members and is likewise capable of releasably receiving the said set of male snap fastener members. By this manner of construction the collar 10 may adjustably, releasably secured at a different neck band size. Clearly several such sets of female snap fastener members may likewise be provided. In adjusting from the first set of female snap fastener members to the second set. the neck band size is of course made smaller.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, there is shown an alternative means of securing the edge portions of the collar of this invention. Generally the collar invention of this embodiment is referred to as 20, and end portions 20a and 20b correspond in function to end portions 11a, 13a and 11b, 13b of the hereinbefore described embodiment. In lieu ofthe snap fastener securing means, there is now provided Velcro hooks 21a on end portion 200 and corresponding Velcro pads 211) on end portion 21b. As end portion 20b is secured within end portion 201:. the corresponding Velcro hooks and pads may be engaged with any desired degree of adjustment.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5 the collars l0 and 20 may be constructed of any suitable shirt fabric such as cotton, silk, linen and the like, so as to provide a fashionable and complementary appearance to the shirt.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown another embodiment of the invention, the collar being designated generally as 30. Collar 30 is shown as being worn in combination with shirt S having shirt collar C. Collar 30 comprises a first collar portion 31 having the appearance of dress shirt collar and overlaying and concealing shirt collar C. Collar 30 also comprises a second portion, that is neck band portion 32 which is a continuous band having ends secured at the back by stitching 33. The first portion 31 and second portion 32 are attached through horizontal stitching 34, at the circumfrence of the neck but discontinuously at the point at which the opposed collar portions 31a and 31b meet. Both portions 3] and 32 are formed of stretchable material, particularly circumferentially stretchable. as denoted by the two-headed arrow. In this manner of construction the entire collar may be stretched to pass freely over the head of the wearer and then reside about the neck of the wearer. The collar may thus be accomodated to any particular neck size. Generally,

the degree of stretching permits. a neck range size of 40 like collar 30 is of stretchable fabric material. Collar 40 however is designed to provide a turtleneck appearance in contradistinetion to a dress shirt appearance and may thereby be suitably worn with a collarless shirt such as a tee-shirt T, so as to alter the appearance to a turtleneck appearance. Collar 40 comprises a first portion, turtleneck 41 and an attached second portion, band 42. Both portions are stretchable in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, the tee-shirt T, is pressingly secured between the outwardly facing part of portion 42 and the inwardly facing part or portion 41, thereby concealling the neck portion N of the tee-shirt.

Collar 40 may also be worn with other shirts such as knit shirts, both collared and collarless. When worn with a collar the turtleneck conceals the collar from view.

The collar of this invention, particularly as shown in FIG. I3 and 5, may be constructed of any suitable material such as natural or synthetic fabrics. Polyester fabrics are particularly desirable. In the embodiment wherein the collar is stretchable, the material may be a rubber, rubberized fabric or stretchable fabric. Suitable stretchable fabric materials include the elastic woven fabrics, and by way of example, Lycra, Spandex and the like.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the snap fastener means may be replaced by a zipper or button or like means. As an alternative to the releasable securing means such as the aforesaid snap fastener, button, zipper means or the like, the end portions 11b, 13b and 11a, 13a may be joined by a partial elastic band secured to the respective end portions. That is, as the elastic band stretches the end portions slide one within the other.

The aforesaid specifications set forth the invention in specific preferred embodiments, and the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and is to be construed in accordance with the claims appended hereunto. 5 What I claim is:

l. A collar comprising a first portion having the appearance of a collar and fitting over-and concealing a shirt collar having point ends and a second portion in folded relationship to said first portion and fitting between the shirt collar and the neck of the wearer. further comprising a pair of pockets formed at the underside of said first member for receiving said point ends of said shirt collar. and means to adjust the neck size of said collar comprising said collar being formed with opposed ends, each of said ends being in folded relationship, and means to releasably secure said opposed ends in overlapping relationship, whereby said point ends of said shirt collar remain within said pockets with adjustment of the neck size of the collar.

2. The collar of claim 1, wherein said first and second portions are formed of fabric and further comprising stitching means to attach said first portion to said second portion.

3. The collar of claim I, wherein said means to releasably secure said opposed ends comprises snap fastener means.

4. The collar of claim 1, wherein said means to releasably secure said collar comprises Velcro means.

5. The collar of claim 1, wherein said opposed ends are at the back of the collar.

6. A collar comprising a first portion having the appearance ofa dress shirt collar and fitting over and concealing the collar on a dress shirt and a second portion in folded relationship to said first portion and fitting between the shirt collar and the neck of the wearer, means to adjust the neck size of said collar comprising said first portion and said second portion being formed of material stretchable in the circumfrential dimension so that said collar may be stretched over the head and around the neck of the wearer.

7. The collar of claim 6, wherein said first portion has a first edge and a second edge and wherein said second edge comprises a collar edge and said second portion has a pair of parallel edges and means to attach said first edge with one of said second portion edges.

8. The collar of claim 6 wherein said stretchable material is elastic woven fabric. 

1. A collar comprising a first portion having the appearance of a collar and fitting over-and concealing a shirt collar having point ends and a second portion in folded relationship to said first portion and fitting between the shirt collar and tbe neck of the wearer, further comprising a pair of pockets formed at the underside of said first member for receiving said point ends of said shirt collar, and means to adjust the neck size of said collar comprising said collar being formed with opposed ends, each of said ends being in folded relationship, and means to releasably secure said opposed ends in overlapping relationship, whereby said point ends of said shirt collar remain within said pockets with adjustment of the neck size of the collar.
 2. The collar of claim 1, wherein said first and second portions are formed of fabric and further comprising stitching means to attach said first portion to said second portion.
 3. The collar of claim 1, wherein said means to releasably secure said opposed ends comprises snap fastener means.
 4. The colLar of claim 1, wherein said means to releasably secure said collar comprises Velcro means.
 5. The collar of claim 1, wherein said opposed ends are at the back of the collar.
 6. A collar comprising a first portion having the appearance of a dress shirt collar and fitting over and concealing the collar on a dress shirt and a second portion in folded relationship to said first portion and fitting between the shirt collar and the neck of the wearer, means to adjust the neck size of said collar comprising said first portion and said second portion being formed of material stretchable in the circumfrential dimension so that said collar may be stretched over the head and around the neck of the wearer.
 7. The collar of claim 6, wherein said first portion has a first edge and a second edge and wherein said second edge comprises a collar edge and said second portion has a pair of parallel edges and means to attach said first edge with one of said second portion edges.
 8. The collar of claim 6 wherein said stretchable material is elastic woven fabric. 